State v. Mechling

STARCHER, J.:

This is an appeal of a domestic battery conviction from the Circuit Court of Monon-galia County. We are asked to examine whether the circuit court erred in permitting the admission of statements made by the victim to three individuals — statements indicating that the victim was battered by the defendant — when the victim did not appear and testify at the defendant’s trial.

As set forth below, we find that the statements made by the victim were improperly admitted in violation of the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article III,…